For historical, economic, geopolitical, and sociopolitical reasons, the Soviet Union has developed a distinctive approach to national security, one which is characterized by militarism, conservatism, and an emphasis on mass. These factors affect the USSR's strategy, force posture, and manpower policies, and reflect both the strengths and weaknesses of the Soviet political system. On the one hand, they provide a unity of purpose to Soviet strategy that is often lacking in American strategic debate. This very unity of purpose, however, may degenerate into a narrow view of means that limits the flexibility of the Soviet Armed Forces in adapting to a fundamentally changed situation.
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